I want to build my roll from about $2k and was wondering if generally it would be an easy transition? Would a "good" 1/2 nl player, expect to build his roll at 2/4 limit fairly easily? Appreciate it. Thank you.

No.



Two things come to mind.

First is that NL players do not do well at limit, at least at the beginning. Every low limit game that has a NL player 'slumming' will be filled with cries of anguish and angry assertions of how "this s**t wouldn't happen at NL". They are different games.

Second is that 2/4 is not beatable for an amount which will really grow a bankroll. Some will say it isn't beatable at all, because of the rake. Don't play below 8/16 if you are looking to increase your bankroll.

Yea I remember reasing 2/4 isn't beatable because rake forgot about that... But you don't think 4/8 would be worth my time? A $2k roll is enough for 8/16? Thanks

I have limited experience with the transition but will impart what I have found.

I have played over 2M hands of NL (mostly full ring) online. My "home" was 100NL...with a few months here and there as high as the 400NL....well some idiotic attempts at 1000NL.

During that time when I traveled I might find a casino here and there and play...but almost only had 3/6 (4/8) HE as the only game in town. Hated the game. No games close to where I lived so I didn't have to suffer through this game often! A few weekends in Vegas per year would get me to some 1/2 and 2/5 NL games to keep me sane. The limit game seemed so limiting.

Fast forward to the past six months. Moved to WA and have an Indian casino (with 3/6 kill only) within a few miles and thought I would maybe....ya know,,,, try to learn the HE game. From a NL background, there is "some" learning needed. But once I got over the initial "oh crap, this sucks phase".... I have begun to really like the beauty of the game.

Now approaching 200 hours (not much, but it is what it is).... I am running at slightly over 2.5 big bets per hour by playing a tight range. If I include the high hand jackpots into the total, I'm at 4+bb/hr. Your mileage may vary.....but if I can do it, then most competent transitioning NLers should do at least as good as this.

strat: in no foldem, you can't bet them off ANY piece....but their continuing range/payoff range is much weaker. Bet lighter for value.

Any minimum wage job will make you more money than most 4/8 games, with the added benefit of zero swings.

If all the money you can currently afford to lose is $2000 you shouldn't be treating poker as your source of income.

If you have another source of income then go play 8/16, if you lose $2000 in two bad sessions (not that rare) then save for a bit and play again later. If you win big save some as part of a proper bankroll.

If you want to improve you LHE game at the low limits and not lose it all to rake then play online.

If you're a good 1/2 NL player and your goal is money, you should play 1/2 NL. Typical risk/reward ratios are much more favorable for NL.

In general NL and LHE are different games so skills may not translate exactly.

Thanks a lot King...

Thanks Chas, online is a good idea but I want to get out of my house. I get about $800/month guaranteed income... looking to take a shot. Might play 4/8.

gotcha Calli.. thinking the same.

A lot depends on the lineup. 4/8 in one game might just be ridiculous, 7 or 8 to the flop every hand, etc. OR it might be a game with thinking players, where your results aren't up to dumb luck so much.

Especially with a limited BR, I believe the $ per hour per $ BR required is much more favorable at NL.

There are two reasons for a NL player to learn limit (beyond learning some skills that are more emphasized in limit).

1. There are days when the mid-stakes selection is just so much better in limit, so the 2/5 or 5/T NL can be meh on days where the 20/40 or 40/80 LHE games are the best games in the room. At those limits, rake matters a lot less. This would be totally room dependent.
2. You need to learn LHE to play in the mix game and think the transition would be more painless (than say, stud). So if you've got an 8 game mix with big bet games you know, plus LHE, plus some other games, adding one more game you're comfortable with is good. 27TD has a LHE feel to it, I hear.

Otherwise, your hourly is going to be way better at 1/2 NL than equivalently sized LHE. You already like NL. A $2k BR would be OK for 3/6 LHE and small for 4/8, even as a decent winner. It sounds like you don't have $200/week extra lying around for playing poker, as you're concerned about $2k. I'd stick with what you know. I guess there's 3) the only mid/high stakes in your room are LHE and you want to learn the game to be able to move up. If there were a place like that.

Just my two cents:

1. Play the game that makes you happy. Happiness is much more important than money anyway. Even though NL is more popular and supposedly more profitable, I hated it.

2. Accept the fact that whatever game you play, you're not going to get rich from it. Very few people can make an income from poker, and if I were to depend on poker for my income, it would take all the fun and joy out of it. (see point #1).

With 2000 you should grind 1/NL until you have 4000 and use the 2k profit to take a shot at 8/16 or higher.

There is a greater divide in skill-sets and general theory between betting structure than game format. It would be easier for a good NL player to transfer to PLO or even 2-7 single draw than LHE, and it would be an easier transition from LHE to O8 or triple draw than to NLH.

As others have said, the micro live LHE games are rake traps that are tough if not impossible to beat despite the absolutely atrocious play. The good thing about NL is it's beatable at even the smallest stakes.

That being said, it was your exact line of flawed thinking that first brought me to LHE over ten years ago. I played micro NL online and wanted to play live, but I wasn't rolled for 1/2. So I started playing micro LHE online with the goal of becoming competent enough to play 3/6. I fell in love with the game and have been playing limit ever since.

Sure. No Prob.

I've seen a lot of NL players come over to our 2/4 table to play while they're waiting for a NL game or to chase the jackpot.

They say "This is the easiest game in the world. If somebody raises you it only costs $4 to call."

Thank you very much.

I think it depends on the how and why of being good at no limit holdem. If you happened to stumble upon a winning no limit holdem strategy that works, then the transition will not be a smooth one. If you happen to understand the deeper aspects of poker theory that allow you to be a profitable no limit holdem player with considerations towards understanding the price of your investments and the potential rewards of those investments, then you're in a much better position to become a good limit holdem player.

This x10000. I really just wanted to play live and 4/8 was something I could afford. I'm just starting out but I have really enjoyed this game so much so far.

Here's the difference: there's lots of ways to play NL holdem or at least approach the game (can't comment much more since I'm not to good At it)

there's basically one way to play limit holdem in most situAtions. Lots of NL players will struggle as they figure out the strategy that works for them or best suits their game but it's just not gonna be the most profitabek way to play